An Epidemic among My People: Religion, Politics, and COVID-19 in the United States

The COVID-19 pandemic has tested American religious communities and created a new politics of religion centered on public health. An Epidemic among My People explores how the virus and government policy affected religion in America, including the link between the prosperity gospel and conspiracy theories, the increased purchase of firearms by evangelicals, the politics of challenging public health orders as religious freedom claims, and the reactions of Christian nationalists, racial groups, and female clergy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 292 pages
Publication date: 03 April 2023
Publisher: Temple University Press,U.S.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented religion with a paradoxical challenge: while faith is essential for helping individuals navigate life's difficulties and make challenging decisions, how can religion continue to provide these benefits and contribute to societal structure without social interaction? This thought-provoking volume, titled "An Epidemic among My People," delves into the impact of the pandemic on American religious communities and explores the emergence of a new politics of religion focused on public health.

The editors and contributors of this book examine how the virus and government policies have influenced religion in the United States. Chapters explore various aspects of this relationship, including the connection between the prosperity gospel and conspiracy theories, the increase in firearms purchases among evangelicals, the politics of challenging public health orders as claims of religious freedom, and the responses of Christian nationalists, racial groups, and female clergy to the pandemic and its political implications.

As the pandemic has created sharp divisions between individuals and their governments, "An Epidemic among My People" offers a comprehensive portrayal of religion in American public life. It sheds light on the ways in which religion has adapted to the challenges posed by the pandemic, as well as the ways in which it has continued to play a significant role in shaping society and individual beliefs.

This book is a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, and anyone interested in understanding the complex relationship between religion and society in the United States during this unprecedented time. It provides a wealth of insights and perspectives that will contribute to our understanding of the role of religion in the post-pandemic world.

Weight: 650g
Dimension: 235 x 159 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781439923399